Doula e-zine (2)

IMPROVING BIRTH OUTCOMES ONE FAMILY AT A TIME

DOULA

CREATING MORE
POSITIVE BIRTH
EXPERIENCES

REDUCING UNNECESSARY MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS IN BIRTH

Doula - [doo-luh]

noun
1. a woman who assists women during labor
and after childbirth.

According to DONA International, a doula is a
professional who is trained in childbirth and
provides continuous support to a mother before, during, and just
after birth. Doula comes from a Greek word that means “a woman
who serves” or “handmaiden.”

What does a Doula do?

Doulas “mother the mother.”
While performing her role, a doula:

Provides continuous emotional support; reassuring and
comforting the mother (the key word is continuous—a doula
never leaves the mother’s side)
Uses comfort measures: breathing, relaxation, movement,
positioning, massage
Provides information and helps a mother become informed
about various birth choices
Helps facilitate communication between the mother and care
provider
Looks after your partner as well (gives them bathroom
breaks!), but their primary responsibility is to the mother
Provides breastfeeding assistance and early postpartum care

What

About

Partners?

How is a doula different from a
labor and delivery nurse or partner/spouse?

Research tells us that the most important thing a woman needs
during labor is continuous support; someone by your side
continuously from start to finish. A doula never leaves your side.
Nurses have other patients to care for and other responsibilities
aside from patient care. When the nurse's shift ends, so does
her care for you. Your doula only has one obligation the whole
time she is with you—and that is YOU!

Think you don't need a doula because your husband (or partner)
will be with you continuously through labor? Your partner is an
essential support person for you to have by your side. However,
your partner will need to eat and use the bathroom at times.

Also, most partners have limited
(if any) knowledge about birth,
medical procedures, or what goes
on in a hospital. A doula doesn't
only support mom, but she
supports your partner too.

Source: Evidence Based Birth

See For Yourself

doulas
make a
difference

The evidence is clear and the public is responding
by choosing more and more often to birth with an
experienced doula. From 2009 to 2013 the number

of families hiring a birth doula has doubled.

Dissatisfied Birth

Pitocin use C-Sections Experience

31% 28% 34%

Reduction Reduction Reduction

www.brentwooddoula.com
615-579-2269